Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it that
we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my household yet,
but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or stubborn or suicidal.
In early July it started growing one new leaf, but the leaf was always very
dark, and it stopped growing and remained small. It lost several leaves
earlier this year. I repotted it in August. When it started loosing another
leaf I cut off the yellow part and the other half survived for a while, but
now it's loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf
of dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the ones
close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots that look
alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't think it has any
pests, and the plants right next to it have been very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that I
could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my camera will
cooperate.

Joanna

I'm not too sure, but phals seem pretty resilient to me. Just give it a
while longer, most take 1-1.5 months to grow new roots in response to
stress. I've had some of my phals go rootless (the nursery didn't take
good care of them), but none have died so far, and most are recovering.
In my experience, if it has at least 1 leaf, and at least 1 inch of
total root, it will be okay most of the time. I've only ever lost 3
plants, the first due to crown rot because I was inexperienced (when I
was 16), the second when my parents bought one and left it to my care,
which didn't happen because I thought they were supposed to take care of
it. It died simply due to neglect....yeah I know, that's gotta be a sin
of some kind. This was last year when I was 21. And this year, I lost
a Phal. Sogo Rose 'Lee' because it got hit twice in half a year by a
fungal infection at the base. I can't explain it, all my other plants
have been fine, and I take care of them all the same way. I'm chalking
that one up to bad genetics.

Cheers,
Xi

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it that
we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my household yet,
but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or stubborn or suicidal.
In early July it started growing one new leaf, but the leaf was always very
dark, and it stopped growing and remained small. It lost several leaves
earlier this year. I repotted it in August. When it started loosing another
leaf I cut off the yellow part and the other half survived for a while, but
now it's loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf
of dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the ones
close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots that look
alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't think it has any
pests, and the plants right next to it have been very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that I
could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my camera will
cooperate.

Joanna

I'm not too sure, but phals seem pretty resilient to me. Just give it a
while longer, most take 1-1.5 months to grow new roots in response to
stress. I've had some of my phals go rootless (the nursery didn't take
good care of them), but none have died so far, and most are recovering.
In my experience, if it has at least 1 leaf, and at least 1 inch of
total root, it will be okay most of the time. I've only ever lost 3
plants, the first due to crown rot because I was inexperienced (when I
was 16), the second when my parents bought one and left it to my care,
which didn't happen because I thought they were supposed to take care of
it. It died simply due to neglect....yeah I know, that's gotta be a sin
of some kind. This was last year when I was 21. And this year, I lost
a Phal. Sogo Rose 'Lee' because it got hit twice in half a year by a
fungal infection at the base. I can't explain it, all my other plants
have been fine, and I take care of them all the same way. I'm chalking
that one up to bad genetics.

Cheers,
Xi

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it that
we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my household yet,
but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or stubborn or suicidal.
In early July it started growing one new leaf, but the leaf was always very
dark, and it stopped growing and remained small. It lost several leaves
earlier this year. I repotted it in August. When it started loosing another
leaf I cut off the yellow part and the other half survived for a while, but
now it's loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf
of dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the ones
close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots that look
alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't think it has any
pests, and the plants right next to it have been very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that I
could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my camera will
cooperate.

Joanna

I saw the subject line and worried about what I might find. Then I saw
who it was from, so.....

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

It's been at least 20 years since I tried it. All it ever accomplished
for me was a rotted plant that died anyway. That's why I haven't tried
it in 20 years. That's also why I'll let someone else tell you how to do
it. Obviously I wasn't very good at it.
If it was my plant, I think I would take it out of the pot again. Trim
off anything that is dead, above or below ground level. Consider using a
smaller pot since it is now a smaller plant. Plant it deep enough that
the new roots have something to grow into. If it is trying at all to
grow new roots you might also consider semi-hydro. I never actually grew
a Phal that way but I have rescued other plants that were having trouble
keeping their roots alive.
Others will reply and will probably have better advice.

Steve

I saw the subject line and worried about what I might find. Then I saw
who it was from, so.....

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

It's been at least 20 years since I tried it. All it ever accomplished
for me was a rotted plant that died anyway. That's why I haven't tried
it in 20 years. That's also why I'll let someone else tell you how to do
it. Obviously I wasn't very good at it.
If it was my plant, I think I would take it out of the pot again. Trim
off anything that is dead, above or below ground level. Consider using a
smaller pot since it is now a smaller plant. Plant it deep enough that
the new roots have something to grow into. If it is trying at all to
grow new roots you might also consider semi-hydro. I never actually grew
a Phal that way but I have rescued other plants that were having trouble
keeping their roots alive.
Others will reply and will probably have better advice.

Steve

Oops, Joanna turns beet red in the face, ok maybe I can spell spag correctly
just once without embarrassing myself? ... No apparently not. Let's try that
again: sag, spag, spagh ... Ok, I give up for tonight!

Thanks Steve and Xi for the encouraging words.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I saw the subject line and worried about what I might find. Then I saw
who it was from, so.....

Oops, Joanna turns beet red in the face, ok maybe I can spell spag correctly
just once without embarrassing myself? ... No apparently not. Let's try that
again: sag, spag, spagh ... Ok, I give up for tonight!

Thanks Steve and Xi for the encouraging words.

"Steve" wrote in message
...
I saw the subject line and worried about what I might find. Then I saw
who it was from, so.....

First Al wrote:

The back of my e-book will have a photo of me,
the author, surrounded by orchids and decked out in
a tight fitting purple jester suit, aluminum rabbit ears
and holding a wench by the handles.

Now Joanna posts this provocative subject line and asks:

When does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

My goodness! Is this group becoming rec.gardens.erotica?

John :-)

First Al wrote:

The back of my e-book will have a photo of me,
the author, surrounded by orchids and decked out in
a tight fitting purple jester suit, aluminum rabbit ears
and holding a wench by the handles.

Now Joanna posts this provocative subject line and asks:

When does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

My goodness! Is this group becoming rec.gardens.erotica?

John :-)

Joanna,

Sphag-n-bag is really intended to be a root-reconstruction environment. The
moist sphagnum being an airy medium and moisture supply, and the sealed
plastic bag being a way to trap 100% RH around the plant so it will not
desiccate while waiting for new roots.

The "bag" part can be helpful for getting recently transplanted plants
quickly acclimated to their new pots, as well. Just slip a bag over the
plant and affix the open end around the pot with a rubber band.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:Jh%bd.320$7d7.213@trnddc04...
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it that
we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my household
yet,
but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or stubborn or
suicidal.
In early July it started growing one new leaf, but the leaf was always
very
dark, and it stopped growing and remained small. It lost several leaves
earlier this year. I repotted it in August. When it started loosing
another
leaf I cut off the yellow part and the other half survived for a while,
but
now it's loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf
of dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the ones
close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots that look
alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't think it has any
pests, and the plants right next to it have been very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that I
could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my camera will
cooperate.

Joanna

Joanna,

Sphag-n-bag is really intended to be a root-reconstruction environment. The
moist sphagnum being an airy medium and moisture supply, and the sealed
plastic bag being a way to trap 100% RH around the plant so it will not
desiccate while waiting for new roots.

The "bag" part can be helpful for getting recently transplanted plants
quickly acclimated to their new pots, as well. Just slip a bag over the
plant and affix the open end around the pot with a rubber band.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:Jh%bd.320$7d7.213@trnddc04...
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue? When
does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it that
we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my household
yet,
but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or stubborn or
suicidal.
In early July it started growing one new leaf, but the leaf was always
very
dark, and it stopped growing and remained small. It lost several leaves
earlier this year. I repotted it in August. When it started loosing
another
leaf I cut off the yellow part and the other half survived for a while,
but
now it's loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf
of dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the ones
close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots that look
alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't think it has any
pests, and the plants right next to it have been very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that I
could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my camera will
cooperate.

Joanna

Ummm? Joanna, please post pics of the 'shagging' part? *G*

--
Cheers Wendy

Remove PETERPAN for email reply

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue?
When does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it
that we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my
household yet, but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or
stubborn or suicidal. In early July it started growing one new leaf,
but the leaf was always very dark, and it stopped growing and
remained small. It lost several leaves earlier this year. I repotted
it in August. When it started loosing another leaf I cut off the
yellow part and the other half survived for a while, but now it's
loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf of
dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the
ones close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots
that look alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't
think it has any pests, and the plants right next to it have been
very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that
I could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my
camera will cooperate.

Joanna

Ummm? Joanna, please post pics of the 'shagging' part? *G*

--
Cheers Wendy

Remove PETERPAN for email reply

J Fortuna wrote:
Ok, so how does one go about the spag'n'bag method of orchid rescue?
When does one do it? And what is it likely to accomplish?

I've got this one Phal that may not survive. I have been telling it
that we've got a record to uphold, since no orchid has died in my
household yet, but I'm beginning to worry that this orchid is deaf or
stubborn or suicidal. In early July it started growing one new leaf,
but the leaf was always very dark, and it stopped growing and
remained small. It lost several leaves earlier this year. I repotted
it in August. When it started loosing another leaf I cut off the
yellow part and the other half survived for a while, but now it's
loosing that too, and after this it will just have one large leaf of
dubious health and the small dark not-quite new leaf. It used to have
healthy roots, but now most of the roots look dried out (at least the
ones close to the surface), however it does have a few tiny new roots
that look alive. All together, it's kind of sad looking. I don't
think it has any pests, and the plants right next to it have been
very healthy.

Should I try this sphag'n'bag method? Or is there something else that
I could try? I might post a picture of this plant to abpo, if my
camera will cooperate.

Joanna

Sphag-n-bag is really intended to be a root-reconstruction environment.

Don't worry, Joanna! See Ray's abbreviation of 'spag' for moral support,
LOL. Then, follow his excellent advice. I have rescued several Oncidium
intergenerics that way, though I confess that Phal rescue has been elusive.

Diana

Sphag-n-bag is really intended to be a root-reconstruction environment.

Don't worry, Joanna! See Ray's abbreviation of 'spag' for moral support,
LOL. Then, follow his excellent advice. I have rescued several Oncidium
intergenerics that way, though I confess that Phal rescue has been elusive.

Diana